HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN READING CRIME FICTION?

• I guess for about 37 years if Nancy Drew counts.
• Geez, all my life, it seems.
• About 18 years.
• 20 years.
• 20 years.
• Oh I don't know, since I was five or six... that makes it, um, 15 years.
• Since the day I realized the Hardy Boys were from hunger....
• Seven years.
• 30 years or so.
• 10 Years.
• 40 years.
• Hmmm... 20, 30 years?
• All my life -- that would be 9 years.
• Since before I could read (my father used to read Dick Tracy among the other funnies). Read my first Hardy Boys novel at the age of 8.
• 10 yrs.
• 30 yrs.
• About 28 years.
• 15 years.
• Geez, 20 years now.
• 25 years.
• 45 YEARS.
• Long enough to recognize bullshit when I see it.
• Over 30 years.
• Since I could read...which has been longer than most people might think.
• 30 years, give or take.
• About 50 years if you count the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.
• Since I was 10 or 11.
• 25 years?
• A long time.
• Started with the real stuff now writing.
• Only about five years--unless you count gothic romance, romances with mystery, and the occasional mainstream novel.
• 15-ish years.
• For two years -- since I became SICK of spy stories.
• 25 -30 years.
• Years and years and years and years.
• Since the mid-1960s.
• 15 years.
• 5 years or so.
• Since the age of ten (24 years).
• 40 odd years.
• About twenty years.
• Since my early teens.
• 20 years.
• 15 -20 years.
• 10 years.
• Fifty years.
• Over forty years.
• Only recently.
• Ever since my partner was iced on a cold windy night.
• All my 47 years. Since I read Hardy Boys Casefiles #86: Virtual Villainy in sixth grade.
• A damnable long time.
• 40+ years.
• 25+ years.
• At least the last 10 years.
• Well, actually all my life from when I learned to read; when I was 6 years old.
• 35 years.
• 30 years.
• 40 years.
• Since 1995.
• Since I was a kid reading Nancy Drew!

DO YOU BELONG TO ANY CRIME-FICTION NEWSGROUPS OR LIST SERVS? WHICH ONES?
(Like, say, Rara-Avis, MysInDepth, DorothyL, etc?)

• Yes - MysInDepth, MacGuffinResearch, MacGuffinChat
• Rara-Avis, MysInDepth, DorothyL, Hammett, Short Mystery Fiction
• Not lately. Used to be in Rara-Avis.
• Nope.
• No.
• Rara-avis.
• Nah.
• All of the above, plus MacGuffin, Spensarium, and DetecToday.
• Rara-Avis.
• No.
• Dorothyl, Rara-Avis, Short Mystery Fiction Society.
• Nope.
• No. Used to be on Rara-Avis (hope to be again). Also Mystery Writers Forum.
• PWA.
• No.
• Hardboiled.
• Rara-avis, rec.arts.mystery, Hardboiled, DorothyL.
• Rara-Avis, tho I rarely contribute.
• NO.
• No.
• No. I may, though. Seeing some of the comments in the UNDER OATH section makes me think I may be missing something.
• Hard-Boiled, MysInDepth, kicked off Rara-Avis (what can I say?)
• Nope.
• Rara-Avis.
• No.
• Rara-Avis and DorothyL
• Rara-Avis.
• No.
• No.
• No.
• Not yet.
• Nope.
• Rara-Avis, SinC-IC, SMFS.
• No.
• Not yet.
• No.
• UK Crime Writer's Association.
• No web sites, apart from this one. I do receive a magazine called 'Shots', published in the UK. Looks at crime fiction generally. Would love to be a member of a site devoted to Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens though.
• No.
• No.
• No, I haven't been on line for most things long.
• Not currently.
• The Spensarium on www.e-Groups.com for Robert B. Parker fans.
• Nope, didn't know there were any. There are? Whoo-hoo!!
• No.
• Rara-Avis, Dorothyl.
• No.
• No.
• Hounds-L, the Nero Wolfe-list.
• No.
• No.

IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME AT THIS SITE?

• No
• Um, like, no.
• No.
• Nope.
• Yes.
• Nope.
• Yeah.
• Hardly.
• No.
• No.
• Yep.
• Yes.
• No.
• No way, José.
• No.
• No.
• Yes, but not my last.
• No.
• Hell, no.
• No.
• NO.
• And my last. Guaranteed.
• No.
• Yep.
• No.
• Second, both today. Does that qualify as the first?
• Yes.
• No.
• Nope.
• Yes.
• Yes--am doing a project, and found you listed in Genreflecting, 5th edition.
• Don't be ridiculous.
• No.
• Yep.
• Uh-uh.
• No.
• Yes, but I'll be back.
• Yep.
• No.
• No.
• Nope.
• No.
• No.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• No.
• No way, Jose...
• No.
• Far from it.
• Yup.
• No.
• No.
• No.
• No.
• Yeah.
• Yes.
• No.
• No- just found it yesterday.
• Yes.

IF NOT, HOW OFTEN DO YOU VISIT THIS SITE?

• Just about daily.
• Two or three times a week, minimum.
• Once or twice a week, see if you've added anything.
• At least once a week.
• Often, at least once a week.
• We'll see.
• I visit too often to count, usually to read background on P.I. series.
• No set schedule.
• Couple times a week.
• About once a month.
• First time.
• Several times a week.
• Every couple of weeks.
• 2 a mo.
• Averages about every other week.
• About once a month.
• Once a week or more.
• Once or twice a month.
• WEEKLY.
• This one time is enough.
• Approximately 3/wk.
• 1/month.
• Infrequently (I've looked at it 5 or 6 times)
• Whenever I'm looking for something to read. Maybe 2-3 times a month.
• Once a week.
• Twice a week. . . sometimes more.
• Several times a week -- I love browsing the detective index.
• Once a month or more.
• When I think of it.
• 1-2 times per week.
• Sometimes.
• Depends. If I've discovered a new detective I'll visit the site to find out what information you have on him/her. I do tend to use your site for reference purposes.
  (Adrian Banfield from York, England -- York's short on P.I.'s but there is one series written by Baker. Plenty of ghosts though...)
• Couple of times a month.
• Once a month.
• Monthly.
• Not too often, but me and Kevin exchange e-mail.
• Whenever I need to do research branching off of my own site.
  (Bob Ames from Framingham MA, just east of Boston)
  (Bob does Bullets and Beer: The Spenser Web Site )
• Almost every time I get on the Internet.
• 3/4x a week.
• Monthly.
• Once a month.
• About once a week.
• Just found it yesterday, so I've been here once a day :)
• I just was surfing.....

IF YOU ARE A FREQUENT VISITOR,
THROUGH WHICH PAGE DO YOU USUALLY ENTER?

• Through the home page.
• The What's New This Month page. Sometimes the Word On the Street page.
• The cover, so I can see if there's any new stories.
• The alphabetical listings.
• The index page.
• I usually link from Plots With Guns.
  (Actually, I meant which page on THIS site. Ed. )
• The front page, I guess.
• Home.
• The Home Page.
• Mine.
• The A - Z guide.
• The bookmarked front page.
• I always go through the front door.
• Either Parker.html or the main page.
• Varies.
• The homepage.
• Home.
• http://www.thrillingdetective.com/

HOW DID YOU ORIGINALLY HEAR ABOUT THIS SITE?

• Webmaster's BSP
• Rara-Avis
• I don't remember. Must have found it on a search engine.
• I was looking for Ross MacDonald information, found the January Magazine special, and there was Mr. Smith's article and this site was mentioned.
• It was featured on our default home page.
• INFOSEEK I think.
• Accident.....looking for Harry-O sites.....
• Searched for "Detective Fiction" on Yahoo.
• I forget.
• Through search engine.
• Probably from an announcement on DorothyL.
• Stumbled across by accident. Search engine trouble forced me to land here.
• Accident by looking at the search on the web.
• Linked from a site on pulps.
• Yahoo.
• Your bio in January Magazine's great crime section.
• Surfin'.
• A friend.
• Rara Avis.
• You know, I forget. I think I was looking for Mike Danger references...
• Went searching for information on Pronzini.
• The owner's relentless, annoying, masturbatory site-flogging.
• From the editor's guest column in Blue Murder.
• Crime Time.
• Search engine.
• Standard web search for "Hard-boiled fiction"...as I recall.
• Don't remember.
• Surfing.
• Stumbled onto it, looking for info on "The Singing Detective."
• Mentioned in a post on DorothyL.
• I can't remember.
• MWF.
  (Not the MontanaWrestling Federation, but the Mystery Writers' Forum, I presume? )
• Genreflecting, 5th edition.
• Just surfing.
• Surfing around, I guess. Can't recall how I found it.
• Stumbled in here from a link on DogPile.
• Those wonderful folks at Google sent me over when I was looking for some 87th Precinct info... (Oh and "Exit" isn't just a rumour -- McBain himself publically revealed its existence in the intro to "McBain's Ladies Too").
• Blue Murder I think. Or earlier.
• Followed a link from Glen Cook's fan page.
• Search engine results (for detective fiction).
• Surfing for Hard-boiled sites.
• Peter Walker.
• Just happened to be searching for crime fiction and this was one of the sites that came up.
• Search engine.
• My sister (Also highly recommended by her cats).
• I was looking into Spenser's A&E movies and followed the links.
• Just surfing, and I decided to do a search for my name. I was a fed infestigator and did PI work before and after. I'm Dan Williams, private eye, but not the Dan Williams that was in the comics. You can visit my web site danwilliamsllc.com at Lawinfo.com (Florida). I don't remember the comic character and God knows I read enough in the 40's. I do remember Dan Williams from Hawaii 50, though.
  (Dan Williams from Havana, FL)
• Surfing.
• I was just browsing for Nick Diamond.
• Researching "Bullets and Beer: The Spenser Web Site" <plug> :-)
• Link to the Chandler page.
• Through a search at www.yahoo.com.
• Read an interview in Blue Murder re J. Michael Blue.
• Did a search for film noir.
• Don't remember.
• Gee, it's been a while. Don't remember.
• I searched information about Rip Kirby and Alex Raymond.
• Surfing.
• Search engine.
• Yahoo- search for hardboiled fiction.

HAVE YOU TOLD ANYONE ELSE ABOUT THIS SITE?
(If you have, thanks, dude.)

• Yes - and that's dudette!
• Yup.
• And we've got a link to it on Plots with Guns.
• Yes.
• Not yet.
• Yeah, I had to spread the word about my story getting published.
• All my friends (2 fwds).
• Yes, anyone who's interested in P.I. fiction.
• Yes.
• No.
• Yes.
• Not yet, but I just got here.
• This is my first time, sorry.
• Yes.
• No.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Oh, yes.
• No.
• You're welcome, dude.
• Yes.
• Only to warn them.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Not yet.
• No.
• No, not yet.
• My wife.
• No, sorry.
• Just a few friends.
• Yes.
• Not yet.
• Not yet.
• Yup.
• Yes -- especially since I have a story coming out on it.
• Not yet, but I will...
• Er, not yet. And now you've made me feel guilty about it.
• Yep.
• Not yet.
• Not yet... But I will.
• Yes!
• No.
• Nope.
• No, sorry...don't know anyone with same interest.
• Sorry, not yet.
• No.
• Not yet.
• Everyone I meet.
• Yes, one of my mates.
• You have the first two spots on my Links page.
• Nope.
• Yeah, but most people I know don't see private eye ficiton as mainstream enough.
• Not yet.
• No.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Nope, not yet.
• Yes.
• A friend.
• Not yet.

DO YOU READ OUR SHORT STORIES?

• Sometimes
• Yup.
• Yes. Good stuff.
• Nope.
• Not yet.
• Yeah, especially my own "God Bless the Child.". Seriously, I try to read them all, and they've all been really good so far. I'm intimidated.
• I will.
• Yes.
• No. I dislike reading fiction on-screen.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Again, not yet. Maybe I will, maybe I won't.
• Hey, this is only my first time, no.
• Occasionally.
• No.
• No.
• Sometimes.
• Most of the time.
• No.
• No.
• Absolutely.
• Yes.
• Yep. Sure, they're some clunkers (just like the real pulps), but even the weakest have a great line, or a nice little twist to recommend them.
• Yes.
• Enough to know they're mostly infantile, politically-correct limpdick blathering, written by pussy-whipped sissies.
• Yes.
• Just did.
• Sometimes.
• No, not yet.
• Always. You never know.
• Not yet, but I will.
• No.
• Yes.
• Not yet.
• Not yet.
• Yeah.
• Yes.
• Just now.
• I've been known to.
• Just read one.
• Regularly.
• Not yet.
• Yes!
• No.
• Nope. I maybe slightly biased here, but I prefer reading a book. Also I work with computers all day, so looking at computers all evening hurts my eyes after a time!
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Not yet.
• Yes.
• What short stories?
• Not yet, but I will now.
• Nope.
• Not yet.
• Always.
• Yes.
• No.
• I'm going to.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• I plan to.

DO YOU EVER USE OUR MYSTERY LINKS?

• Yes
• Yup.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yep.
• I might.
• Sometimes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes, surprisingly, I have done that already. Went to the Parker link. Already I owe you -- it's a great site.
• Like I said the is just my first time, no.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• On occassion.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• I might.
• Yes.
• Not yet, but I will.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Not yet.
• Not yet.
• Oh my yes.
• Yes.
• Yup.
• Sometimes.
• Not yet.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Sometimes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• No.
• I will.
• Yes.
• Mystery links?
• Yes, I have found them very useful.
• Not yet......
• Once in a while.
• Not yet.
• Often.
• Probably have -- don't recall.
• Yes.
• I'm going to.
• No.
• I think I have.
• I probably will.

DO YOU EVER PARTICIPATE IN OUR POLLS?

• No (well, except for this one)
• Yup.
• Um.......yes.
• Nope.
• If this one counts, then yes.
• If I have the means to answer them.
• I am.
• I do, when I feel informed enough to comment.
• Obviously.
• No, not generally.
• Yes.
• I'd say "no," but that wouldn't sound very ingenuous at the moment, would it?
• First poll I've seen is this one.
• Doesn't the fact that I'm answering these questions provide the answer to this. Anyone who says "no" is automatically giving the lie to his answer by virtue of the fact that he's answering.
  (Um, it was a Zen question?-ed )
• Yes.
• 1st time.
• Yes.
• Yes, right now.
• When I feel informed enough to have an intelligent opinion.
• No.
• Yes.
• Just this one, because some things have to be said.
• Well, yeah. Obviously.
• Never! And you mugs can't make me.....hey, hold on....uh-oh....
• First time.
• Duh!
• Yes.
• No.
• Am now.
• Yes.
• This is the first.
• Doing that now, aren't I?
• This is the first one.
• Maybe once before.
• Hmm... is this a trick question?
• Isn't this one of them, or is this considered strictly a questionaire?
• Yes.
• No.
• Yes.
• First time.
• Yes.
• Only now.
• Infrequently.
• Polls?
• Not yet.
• Erm.......
• No.
• Self-evident, eh what?
• No, but I will.
• Yes.
• Yep.
• No.
• I am right now :)
• My first one.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE SITE?

• All of it's pretty good.
• The list of tough guys.
• You've put together an enormous and comprehensive site. Your listing of characters alone is astonishing.
• Polls.
• Profiles of PIs.
• Authors & the bibliography.
• P.I. roster.
• The info on various series and authors.
• Private eyes & other ...
• The whole thing.
• The Character and Writer Lists.
• New Books.
• Not much, although the bibliographies (if they're complete), might be useful for someone.
• The detectives listing - great for reference.
• Haven't been around long enough to form an opinion.
• Kevin's comments.
• The list of great detectives.
• Authors and Detectives list.
• The list. You should get some sort of award, man. Or a life..;-)
• Just about everything....seriously, the whole goddamn thing is informative and useful.
  (Tribe from Ohio)
• Don't know yet.
• Fiction.
• Being able to find out the dirt on my favorite PI characters and some I never heard of before. Your piece on John B. West's ROCKY STEELE must have planted a seed, for example, because on a recent trip to a used book store I found three of the Steele books and snatched them right up.
• Too early to pick one.
• The P.I. list. And I *like* the fact that it's opinionated -- I can always choose to ignore the opinions...
• Fiction.
• The master list of hard boiled PIs.
• The P.I. lists.
• Mine.
  (Mark Timlin from London)
  (Mark's the creator of rock 'em, sock 'em Brit P.I. Nick Sharman. ­ed. )
• The A - Z guide.
• The info on each PI.
• Alphabetized listing of PIs.
• Hall of fame.
• Don't know yet, I've downloaded it and will explore later.
• Front page art.
• Err...The banner ad leading to Bullets and Beer. And the authors info.
• Ah.......
• The bios and bibiographies of the private eyes. Definitely.
• New fiction.
• I like it all, man.
  (Steve Miller from Columbus, OH)
• Trivia.
• Don't know yet.
• The character indexes.
• I don't know yet.

WHAT'S YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE PART OF THE SITE?

• Like I said, all of it's pretty good.
• So far, the poll.
• New "authors."
• Radio (just because I can't listen to it)
• Honestly, pal, I don't have one.
• Trivia.
• None.
• Haven't been around long enough to form an opinion.
• None, really.
• No preference.
• Can't think of any.
• Don't know yet.
• Hmmmmm nothing stands out as really bad.
• Can't think of any.
• Too early to pick one.
• Well, the typos. Sorry. I'm finicky that way.
• Don't have any.
• Everyone else's. (Mark Timlin from London)
• Haven't got a least favourite.
• Haven't been through it enough.
• Surveys (Oh!)
• Well, err...
• The fact that my banner is not on the index page.
• Well........
• The cover art.
• Don't have one.
• Nothing yet.
• Hold on... I'll find something...
• I don't know yet.

DO YOU EVER READ BOOKS BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS MADE HERE?

• Yes, but perhaps not for the reasons you'd wish (in particular, reading the Marsh Tanner series because you compared him to Eeyore)
• Sometimes, yeah.
• Sometimes.
• Yes.
• I have read many of the books recommended here and have already picked out some new ones.
• All the time. Everytime I think I'm out of PIs to read, I find a new one here. Most recently I found Rutgers alumni (GO RU) Jeremiah Healy and his John Francis Cuddy books.
• I haven't yet.
• Yes.
• I probably have, Don't recall anything specific, though.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Can't say I have, at least not yet.
• I haven't looked.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes-Carvalho-disappointed.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Absolutely.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Not so far...but, I am new around here.
• Yes.
• I don't know yet--haven't read any recommendations.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• I might, but have just arrived. That's the best reason for checking out site like yours.
• Not so far, but it could happen.
• The John B. West novels mentioned above -- although I'm not sure that was a recommendation! I've started reading Shell Scott, too.
• Not yet, but I probably will.
• Yeah, Elmore Leonard, who I had somehow missed.
• Hard to recall.
• I am about to lookup a few.
• I've read one or two.
• No.
• Yes.
• No.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• No. But I am only 13!
• Yes, I gotten some very good leads here.
• YES! I discovered Elvis Cole, John Marshall Tanner, Nameless, Ben Perkins, Amos Walker and more from your awesome site!
• Yes.
• Sure.
• Not now.
• Why not?
• Not yet, but who knows. This is only my second time here, since I discovered the site yesterday.
• Not yet.

HOW MANY P.I. AND CRIME BOOKS DO YOU READ A MONTH?

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WRITING CRIME FICTION?

• NO!!
• Sure, isn't everyone?
• Yes.
• Nope.
• No.
• Very, very, very.
• Somewhat.
• Yes.
• If I haven't done so thus far - and I haven't - probably not.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• I do so professionally. Not under the above name. And nothing you've read -- my novels are as yet unpublished, but my screenplays make me some dough.
• I try.
• Yes.
• No.
• No.
• Yes.
• No.
• Oh yeah.
• No, just reading it.
• No.
• Maybe.
• Yep. Do it all the time.
• Yes.
• Yes--although the short stories I've written feature a 10-year-old girl and a chubby kid with glasses. Not exactly hard-boiled detective stuff, but more realistic than Encyclopedia Brown.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes on page 137 of current novel.
• Nope.
• You could say that.
• YES!
• As a matter of fact, yes...
• Vaguely. More interested in reading it for now.
• Yep.
• I have written a few short stories in college, one got published.
• Yep.
• Yes; I am a published crime writer.
• Yes.
• I most certainly am. Struggling to write some espionage short stories at present rather than P.I. novels.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes, I've sort of started my first book, but only have about 3000 words thus far.
  (Clay Horning from Norman, OK)
• Yes, I've taken courses.
• Yes. In fact, my first Jack Merritt P.I. short story, "Pomona Rae", is currently up at GenrEZONE.com.
  (Kim Sellers from Whippany, NJ)
• There's a point!
• Good lord no. It's hard enough keeping Bullets and Beer up to date.
• No.
• Yes. But only after I've gotten some college English classes under my belt first.
• Yes. I am a published writer.
• No.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Actually yes.
• Yes.
• Once I get it down, yeah sure.
• Not at this time.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WRITING FOR THIS SITE?
(If you are interested, please drop me a line about what you'd like to write about. If you're interested in submitting a short story, cast your orbs on our Fiction Guidelines)

• Writing about P.I.s? I already do. Fiction? Well, I would be if I weren't the fiction editor.
• Yes. Again.
• Maybe.
• Unsure.
• I already have and hope to again. That is, if Kevin still wants me.
• Maybe.
• Yes.
• Done that.
• Yes.
• Sure. What's in it for me?
• Could be. I haven't written a short story in years. What's it pay?
  (Alas, we can't afford to, at least yet. But we're working at it.-ed.)
• No.
• I've written occasional comments; if site ever pays for fiction, I'd like to try that, too.
• No.
• No.
• No, my English isn't that good.
• What? Again?
• No.
• No.
• Only if you pay big time (See Heinlein's First Rule of a Professional Writer).
• Not so far...but, I am new around here. {Am I repetitive or what?}
• Hadn't thought about it.
• Sure!
• I would be, yes.
• Yes.
• Could.
• Nope.
• I would have to say yes.
• YES!
• Not ready yet, but maybe someday.
• Yep, but nothing appropriate yet.
• Who's got the time? Not I :-(
• Sure.
• I'd be glad to!
• Why not?
• I doubt if any of my stuff would come up to scratch at present. Maybe in the future.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Possibly.
• I didn't know you did this when I droped you a line, I'll get back to you.
• Always.
• Could be! But I am only 13!
• If you need anything along the Spenser line let me know.
• No.
• But I'm really busy with school right now.
• Yes.
• No.
• Maybe someday.
• Not now.
• I might be.
• No.

DO YOU WATCH A LOT OF MOVIES?

• Yes, but not necessarily new ones.
• Naaah.
• Probably, but not as much as other people, I guess.
• Quite a lot, I guess.
• Yes.
• Yep.
• Tons.
• Yes, though less than I used to.
• No.
• Yes.
• One or two a month.
• Yes, although not as many as I used to.
• No.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• No.
• Yes.
• Yes, at least before my son was born.
• Define "a lot."
• So so.
• Yes.
• No.
• Yes.
• Rarely.
• Yes.
• Yep! Too many probably.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Nope.
• Oh my, yes.
• No.
• Yep. Background noise during the day (and late at night) while I'm working.
• Nope.
• Some.
• One a week, usually.
• Christ, yes.
• Somewhat; I'm more of a reader.
• Loads.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Not so much.
• Some.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Only the classics. I can quote most of "The Maltese Falcon."
• Sure do!
• No.
• Yes. My long suffering wife will give testimony.
• Only ones on AMC and TCM.
• Yes.
• Not a lot.
• Lot lot lot!
• No.
• I watch some.
• On occassion, depending what's on.

DO YOU WATCH A LOT OF TV?

• Not any more, but I used to watch WAY too much of it.
• Um, no.
• Oh God Yes.
• Nope.
• No.
• Yep. I'm really trying to fry my brain.
• Some.
• Less than I used to.
• No.
• No.
• Average.
• Now and again. No, that's not true, I watch more TV than movies. But I'm not a devoted viewer.
• Oh my god, yes.
• Yes.
• No.
• Yes.
• Some.
• Yes, at least before my son was born.
• Define "a lot."
• Yes.
• No, I can read, thank you.
• No. My students used to chide me for being out of touch with current TV.
• Never touch the stuff, anymore.
• No.
• Mostly BBC, A & E, History Channel, Court TV, and Sci Fi.
• Yes.
• No.
• Nope.
• Yeah, but a lot of AMC, so that's still movies.
• No.
• Yep. Background noise during the day (and late at night) while I'm working.
• Define "a lot"...
• Yeah.
• None.
• Selectively.
• No.
• Tons.
• Yes - one to two hours a day.
• Yes.
• No.
• Is 50 hours a week a lot?
• Yes.
• Yes, especially mystery stories but I don't like series.
• Old movies and sports.
• Loads.
• Never.
• These eyes are square, baby!
• Yes.
• Little commercial TV. Mostly movies and cable news programming.
• Only to access AMC and TCM and A&E/PBS mysteries.
• No.
• Yes.
• Movies and some series.
• No.
• I get on a kick every now and then.
• Just in the evening, but not network.

DO YOU EVER BUY BOOKS OR STUFF THROUGH THIS SITE?
(Again, if you do, thanks. It helps pay for web space for the site.)

• Sorry, no. Now if you'd just link up with Chapters...
• Yeah, frequently.
• Sorry, but no.
• Nope.
• No.
• I think I have, I've bought from Amazon, and have looked at books through the
  site links so... yes.
• Not yet.
• I haven't yet, but I might in the future.
• Not yet.
• Not yet.
• No, I work in a bookstore. But we do use your site for reference.
• Yes.
• Haven't yet. But if I see one I like, I will.
• No (I'm too young to have a credit card).
• Yes.
• No, I live in Germany.
• No.
• Not yet.
• Occasionally.
• No.
• No, but I don't like ordering anything online.
• No.
• Not so far.
• Yes, if linking to Amazon from here counts.
• Not so far.
• No.
• Sorry--not yet.
• Yes.
• No.
• Just arrived.
• No.
• Don't make purchases on-line.
• Yes. Sometimes through Amazon, sometimes through other stores listed.
• Not yet.
• Yes. To my deep embarassment, I find myself buying books spontaneously. Damn you!
• Not yet.
• No.
• No, but perhaps I will.
• Yes.
• Sorry, no.
• Nope, sorry, I have my own Amazon sites.
• No.
• Yes.
• Not yet.
• Yes, usually through the stores listed in the links pages, and once or twice even through the dreaded Amazon!
• Usually go straight to Amazon for that, but maybe they can tell I was here 1st.
  (Well, yes, if you connect to them from this site. -ed. )
• No.
• Not yet. But again, who knows.
• Not yet.

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE EYES?

• Uh-oh, this one's going to require further thought. The only one I can think of right off the bat is Stanley Hastings. (Remember, you said favorite, not best.)
• The Three Investigators, Delilah West, the Continental Op, Nameless, and doubtless I'm missing some.
• The Op, Easy Rawlins, NIck Stefanos, Lew Archer, Kenzie and Gennaro (yes, I mean that)
• Milo and Sughrue, and those characters everybody mentions. But my gods, Leonard and Thompson, don't write P.I.-fiction.
• Kinsey Milhone, Carlotta Carlyle, Stephanie Plum, Sharon McCone, Harry Bosch, VI Warshawski.
• Spenser, Phil Marlowe, Lew Archer, Elvis Cole, I'm getting into John Marshall
  Tanner. Oh and JACKSON DONNE!
• Harry-O, Jim Rockford, Nick & Nora (ok ok, but man was she sexy!)
• Philip Marlowe, Spenser, Travis McGee, and Elvis Cole.
• The Op, Marlowe, Archer, Nero Wolfe, Brock Callahan, Max Latin, Nameless, Harry Stoner, Amos Walker, Jacob Asch -- and on and on.
• Nick Sharman/Spade/Marlowe.
• Elvis Cole, Kenzie&Genaro, Pronzini's Nameless, Sharon McCone, Warshawski, Spenser, Travis McGee.
• T. McGee, D. Brandstetter, M. Scudder/B. Rhodenbarr, Fletch.
• Sherlock Holmes,The Three Investigators, Hardy Boys, The Clue Brothers, The A to Z Mysteries, The Boxcar Children.
• The Continental Op is my all-time fave. A few runners-up include Phil Marlowe, Lew Archer, Mike Hammer, Dan Kearney and his Associates, Nate Heller, and Amos Walker. Jim Rockford and Peter Gunn rule the roost on TV.
• Ben Perkins, Elvis Cole.
• Mongo, Tanner, Joe Binney, Brandstetter, Milo & Sughrue, Denson, Heller, Marlowe, Lew Griffin, Bernie Gunther.
• Marlowe, the Op, Elvis Cole, Lew Archer, Matt Scdder, Harry Stoner, Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin.
• Scudder, Marlowe, the early Robicheaux, Cole.
• Ben Perkins, Nameless, Elvis Cole, Miles Jacoby, Matt Scudder, Jim Hardman, Michael Tree, Travis McGee, Burke (first three books), Mike Hammer, Thomas Magnum, Joe Mannix, Mike Mauser, Julian Burroughs/Devlin Tracy...
• Matt Scudder, Nameless, Harry Stoner, Thomas Magnum :-)
• Scudder, Stefanos, Archer, Marlowe, Griffin, Tanner, Crane, Sharman.
• Lew Archer, Dave Robicheaux (not quite an eye), Thomas Black, Amos Walker.
• Continental Op, Marlowe, Race Williams, Spade, Max Latin, and more...
• Both of Crumley's, Cecil Younger, Matthew Scudder.
• Nero Wolfe, Sam Spade, Phillip Marlow! I suppose Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn don't qualify, too bad.
• Sherlock Holmes, Nero Wolfe, Horace Rumpole, Hercule Poirot, Encyclopedia Brown.
• Harry Stoner, Milan Jacovich, Dave Robicheaux (or is he a cop?), Travis McGee, etc.
• Spade, Marlowe, Hammer.
• Kinsey Milhone, Stephanie Plum, Julian Kestrel, and the police detectives (public eyes?) of Elizabeth George and Deborah Crombie.
• Spade, Marlowe of course. And I hear this Conner Samson guy is great--Ahem.
• Mike Hammer, Mike Hammer, and Mike Hammer. Mike Hammer's no slouch, either.
• Ellery Queen, Matt Scudder, John Shaft, Jim Rockford, Philip Marlowe, Kamus of Kadizar, Matthew Swain.
• Rockford, Spenser, Fletch...anybody who can bring a little humour to the table.
• Travis McGee, Jack Reacher, Easy Rawlings.
• Nero Wolfe, good old Sherlock...
• Phil, Sam, Op, Dave Klein, Kemper Boyd, Pete Bondurant, Bud White.
• Marlowe, Archer, Brandsetter, Percival Brand, and of course, Roland Longville.
• Philip Marlowe, Nick Sharman (Gee, I wonder who?)
• Cliff Hardy, Continental Op, Sherlock Holmes, Philip Marlowe, Toby Peters, Mr. J.G. Reeder, The Saint, plus others, but my mind's gone blank!
• Shaft, Marlowe, Hammer, Archer.
• Matt Scudder, Burke.
• Jim Rockford, with Snooper and Blabber a close second.
• Spenser, Sid Halley (Dick Francis).
• I like the old-timers like Marlowe and Sam Spade, some later writers tho I have a hard time remembering the names of their characters.
• Sam Spade, The Continental Op, Marlowe...
• Nick & Tim Diamond.
• Spenser, Sam Spade, Lord Peter Wimsey, Elvis Cole.
• A case of rounding up the usual suspects....
• My all-time favorites are Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. Then comes Travis McGee, Elvis Cole, Ben Perkins, and Jim Rockford.
• Marlowe, of course. Samuel Spade. Mike Hammer.
• Marlowe, Archer, McGee, The Continental Op.
• Milodragovich/Sughrue, Stoner, Asch, Younger.
  Trivia Answer: Shaft. Damn right.
• Dave Cunane, Kate Branigan, Sal Kilkenny, Marlowe, Bbrenner (An austrian dick).
• Rip Kirby, Sam Spade, Nate Heller, Mosley.
• The Continental Op.
• Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe, Deckard (from Bladerunner) and Jake (from Chinatown).
• McCone, Stephanie Plum, Nameless,Millhone, J.W. Jackson, and of course there's always Magnum.

WHICH EYE AM I MISSING THAT I SHOULD REALLY DO AN ENTRY ON?

• Another tough one. How about Harry McGraw?
• I think you've got them all, but I'm wrong.
• Are there really any left? I was surprised, that even Leo Malet's Nestor Burma is included. And Marlow, the Singing Detective.
• I don't know.
• I think Sherlock Holmes should count. Private investigating isn't a hobby for him, it's a profession and he and Dupin were pretty much the firsts (unless you count the guy from Dicken's Bleak House)
• I think you got them all....
• I'd have to go check the listings and haven't the time right now.
• You mean your list is incomplete?
• The most important eyes to come out of the 70s renaissance were Spenser, Brandstetter and FLETCH! Hey, if you're willing to call Natty-Freakin'-Bumppo an eye, I.M. Fletcher certainly qualifies.
• Nothing.
• Ed Gorman's Robert Payne, George Ogan's Johnny Bordelon, Jack Livingston's Joe Binney, and Jim Reardon from the first film version of "The Killers".
• Joe Binney by Jack Livingston-he could write rings around 99% of his contemporaries. (Randy Copeland from Oklahoma)
• Can't think of any.
• Kajankaja ("Happy birthday, Turk")
  (Torsten Widlitzki from Dresden, Germany)
  (Actually, I do have an entry on Kemal Kayankaya. Is it possible his name is spelled differently outside of Germany? - ed. )
• I can't think of any right now, but if I do, you'll hear from me.
• Ugh, I really don't know... Richard Wentworth, the Spider? Who of course isn't a classic eye, of course...
• Don't know of any that would fit your definition of eye.
• Complete transcipts of James Reasoner's Texas Wind and that Charles Willeford "lost" novel. (If I'm going to dream, I'll dream big).
• Personally, I'm missing my left eye...Oh, I get it, P.I.,eh? Can't think of one.
• I like Gervase Fenn, but he is not an eye in the traditional sense.
• Encyclopedia Brown. Probably the first detective a lot of us read as kids.
• No idea.
• None that I can think of.
• Don't know yet.
• Seems pretty complete to me.
• Well, he's not really a PI, but Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan deserves an entry. Parker and Earl Drake aren't PIs, and they have entries. Why not Mack?
• Are you KIDDING? If there's somebody you missed I damn sure don't know who it is!
• Fletch. Hell, I'll do it myself if I have to.
• Plenty from Eastern Europe... but given that hardly any have been translated in English, what's the point?
• Roland Longville.
• Dunno.
• I think you've got all the ones I know.
• Sid Halley - three Dick Francis books, last was Odds Against.
  (Actually, there is a file on Halley, and Odds Against is the first, not the last book. ­ ed. )
• I notice the Dennis Lehane books are not mentioned. Very powerful stories.
  (Check out Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro.­ ed. )
• Dunno.
• I can't think of any.
• (Wolfgang Mizelli from Austria)Brenner (An austrian dick; suggested by Wolfgang Mizelli from Austria)
  ( Hey, don't be shy. Tell us about him. - ed. )
• The Continental Op.
  (E. Collins from Nanaimo, B.C.)
  ( Actually, we do have an entry on Hammett's Continental Op. Check it out. - ed. )
• Can't think of one.
• I don't know.

WHAT ELSE AM I MISSING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE?

• A complete list of Dell mapbacks.
• Some news from the crime field, like a "gossip" column. You list new stuff, but what about a little more insight into the behind the scenes world of crime writing?
• It would be very very very nice, if it was possible to search the site for authors. Well, actually if it was possible to search the site for anything.
• Don't know.
• Some way to search the site?
• I think you should have more author's profiles.
• A contest....or did I miss it?
• Like I said above, I'd have to go check the listings and haven't the time right now.
• Hard to say, haven't been here long enough. Do you have an e-mail announcement as to when the site is updated?
• Not a thing.
• Can't think of anything off-hand.
• Updates on authors.
• Essays and articles about crime fiction, PIs and their creators.
• Amazon gift certificates (just kidding).
• A search function.
• Site is great. A treasure trove of information.
• Having never met you personally, I couldn't really say. But, your site is fine, if that's what you mean.
• I'm too new to the site to make a good constructive comment.
• More author listings--sometimes it's hard to track down a book if you know the author, but don't know the name of his/her detective. Maybe if they were cross-indexed? Maybe more crime/noir writing (not necessarily detective)?
• I'd like to see the site devote more space to crime fiction in general, as opposed to just PI stuff.
• A SEARCH ENGINE!!!
  (Okay, okay, no need to shout. Try this out and let me know what you think...- editor )
• Don't know yet.
• Uh, author interviews maybe?
• More author profiles. You have a nice list already, but too many black spots with no links. If I can help, please ask! Sometimes authors are just as fun as their creations, and with e-mail maybe we can even get them to say a few words.
• Mickey Spillane's eight-volume treatise on the migratory habits of the Australian auk.
• A proofreader. :)
• James Ellroy, James Ellroy, James Ellroy! Not generally PI, but harder than hard.
• Femme Fatale of the month would be nice...and think of the fringe benefits! Author interviews!
• More on me & Sharman (Mark Timlin again) (Persistent cuss, eh? )
• Maybe a discussion about a particular author and his character(s), and then asking readers for their views.
• I would like to see capsule reviews of novels/films/series added to each PI section.
• Audio clips from old radio shows...
• Dunno.
• Pictures of the private eyes to accompany their bios.
• Nothing now.
• LA Confidential (a really good movie).
  (But not a P.I. flick...- ed.)
• I haven't fully explored the site.

WHAT AM I DOING WAY TOO MUCH OF?

• Spelling like an American (Sorry! Couldn't resist that one.)
• Nostalgia.
• Do it. I don't have to look at the stuff I'm not interested in.
• Don't know.
• Not too much.
• Nothing yet.
• Appears to me, you're spending way too much time at the computer, but I appreciate it.
  (Have you been talking to my wife?-ed.)
• Ahhh not a thing.
• Well, this poll has an awful lot of questions.
• Hyping brand new "writers" (mainly site contributors).
• Fiction.
• Hey man, it's your site. Do whatever you want.
• A man's private business is his private business.
• Nothing.
• Can't think of anything.
• Don't know yet.
• Everything's great. Keep up the good work.
• Sitting in front of a keyboard, perhaps, but I'm grateful as hell.
• Hey, web sites are *supposed* to be shrines to obsession...
• I'd stress the television less, but I'm biased against television.
• Nothing...keep up the good work.
• Yellow backgrounds!
• Trying to keep the bios short. I want to know more about the different personalities that compose the genre.
• Too many questions :)
• I don't know.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE TYPO I'VE MADE?

• Is there any question? The original Frank Cannon entry, when he had a taste for "fine wood and wine."
• Not gonna throw stones...
• Don't know.
• I am rereading as I type.
• Spenser's a man who loves his bear.
• I can't narrow it down to just one. :)
• Don't recall any memorable ones offhand.
• Here in America (where English was perfected), much of your writing seems like typos. I'm sure you read our stuff wondering where all the "u"s went.
• Haven't looked.
• Make too many myself to criticize.
• If yu mad e one I mised itt.
• Two words: Glass houses. I ain't gonna throw any stones.
• I can't spell well enough to detect any.
• Haven't noticed any so far...
• You make typos? No way.
• Haven't found any yet--except that Brits and Americans have two different ways of spelling favourite.
  (Actually, I'm Canadian, proudly smack dab in the middle. )
• Saying Mike Hammer used a .38. Sacrilege! Wait, did I spell that right? But you corrected it so all if forgiven, my son. <BG>
• Um... can't I just go home now?
• Well, I do enjoy the fact that Johnny Dollar allegedly gives out silver dollar tips to "belly boys"...
• You should realy wach your speling.
• Haven't noticed one yet. (Honesp? )
• Calling my sister lovely.
  (Allan Long from Raleigh, NC)
• Huh?
• cant
• Let me look...
• Dn't knw...
  (Debbie from South Bend, IN)

WHAT SHOULD I BE ASKING THAT I HAVEN'T?

• If anyone knows of any hippo PI's.
  (What? You don't know about the legendary Hip Flask? I'm shocked, I tell you, SHOCKED!-ed.)
• Festivals, retrospectives (film & tv), brush with fame stories (I have none).
• "Why do they keep throwing me off Dorothy L?"
  (Hey, isn't that MY question?-ed.)
• Hmm... favorite authors? Favorite PI films and TV shows? And why is it that the PI show (and movie, for that matter) appears to be dead? What's the last one to survive more than a season, that miserable "Spenser For Hire"? I didn't hate "Buddy Faro," why didn't it last?
• I'd like to see a poll on Archer.
• How old are you?
• Nada.
• Whether or not I would like a million dollars in cash, tax free, and by tomorrow.
• Maybe about the atmosphere of the stories.
• How much money I need.
• Don't know.
• You've asked too much already. I'm not talkin' and you can't make me!!!
• How 'bout "Who's the P.I. everyone else seems to like, but you've never warmed to?"
• Some age and occupation question, I'd like to see the population's make up.
• Who is the best writer? Why? Why do you like his stuff?
• This sort of poll is just fine.
• Have I got a worm in my ear?
• Can you think of a cool name for a private eye?
• Do you like the cover art? and yes!
• Don't Know.

SPILL THE BEANS
Further Comments, Suggestions, etc.

• "Hey, the site works for me. New issue looks great, by the way."
  (Victoria Esposito-Shea, from Canton, New York)
• "Great site, helps keep the private eye alive in a changing world. Perhaps we could see more on how fiction's PIs will have to adapt and change in the new century."
  (Anthony Neil Smith from the Mississippi Gulf Coast)
• "I tried to send an e-mail several times. It didn't work. Came back. It never happens with other addresses." (Hmmm...I apologize. Maybe Colba.Net was on the fritz again.- ed )
  (Gunnar from Hamburg, Germany)
• "This is my first time to this site, but it definitely won't be my last."
  ( Linda from Victoria, BC, Canada)
• "As always, great work on the site, Kev. It's one of the few I consult regularly."
  (Gerald So from New York)
• "I'd like more short stories if possible. Have you got any English stories? Like the directory of PI's and TV/Film. Found out some info on the TV series Private Eye which was shown in England years ago. Didn't realise they only made a couple until I read it on the site. Keep up the good work."
  (Richard Langridge from England)
• "I don't know where you find the time and money to keep up this site, but please continue to do so. I'll be checking in with you periodically and fully expect to see you here, so DON'T BAIL ON US!"
  (Pete Barnstrom from San Antonio, TX, USA)
  (Hey, I wouldn't even be doing it if I wasn't having fun. I'm sure not getting rich from it.-ed.)
• "One of my favorite sites." (Jim Doherty from Chicago, IL)
• "It's not that the fiction on the site is poor. I just prefer mystery novels to mystery stories. I am curious about the lives of the authors behind the eyes as well as what other buffs and writers think about the fiction and the craft, past and present. I do love this site."
  (Darwin Chismar from Fishers, IN)
• "I've said it before, and I'll say it again for the record: This is my favorite site on the web. An obvious and awesomely extensive labor of love, and I'm really glad I found it." (Christopher Mills)
• "The site is great. The Bibliograpies are very good and, what is important, are well maintained. I don't agree with every introduction written, but hey, taste's are different and you can't win 'em all. Keep up the good work. So many writer-sites are nothing more than advertisements, and it is good to have one reliable site about P.I.s - a genre which suffered IMHO in the last years as it has gone rather formulistic and stale, for instance, how many P.I.s are on television, how come that most novels are no longer reprinted as mass market paperbacks, etc - where one can go to, if you want to know how many book John D. McDonald wrote or just go browsing and finding new interesting writers one never heard of."
  (Andreas Decker from Germany)
• "Excellent site, very useful and enjoyable. No gripes."
  (David N. Pepperell from AUSTRALIA)
• "A real waste of time for all concerned, with very little of substance. No wonder you have to flog it so much. Your views are typical liberal, anti-American bullshit, obsessed with political correctness and pushing your socialist agenda. Next time you jerk off, please do so in private."
  (No name or address offered) (Big Surprise!)
• "Just keep up the good work. Oh, and a few anecdotes about your experiences in directing Clerks and Dogma would be nice. (Just kidding)"
  (That Joe Howe from Huntsville, Alabama, ladies and gents, he's such a wag!)
• "All kidding aside, you have a swell site. Just the sort of thing I have long thought about instigating. I will enjoy dropping in frequently in the future."
  (Chris Casey from Stillwater, OK, USA)
• "When I've spent more time here, I'll comment. It looks great so far!"
  (Derek Gilbert from St. Louis)
• "I really like the site and have found any number of suggestions for writers, books, etc., that I hadn't heard of or wouldn't have come across through other channels. I followed one of your links and found a great site devoted to Gold Medal books. It's a very helpful site and remarkably comprehensive."
  (Craig Larson from Trinidad, CO)
• "It's a good idea to query your site visitors."
• "Just a great site. I'm sure I'll be a loyal patron for years to come."
  (Victor Gischler from Raleigh, NC)
• "You have a very entertaining website and I'm glad to see it getting the publicity it recieves on other websites. It's not only good for you, but those of us that are fortunate enough to have stories posted. If the Internet is opening doors for a new kind of pulp publishing, your site is one of the front runners in the "revolution." The detective index is continuously informative, and even answers questions I've had about cancelled and forgotten TV shows, out-of-print PIs books, gives insider scoops. More author profiles would be a plus, as I've mentioned. Thanks for the great site and I look forward to seeing it continue."
  (Brian Evankovich from California)
• "Your site is the cat's meow. I look forward to exhausting it. I love dicks(private and copper, not the modern vernacular), gunslingers, samurai, and all others moral but corrupted. I love to yap on the subject. I've written 6 screenplays, several short stories, and am in the process of outlining my first book. I am also an actor, armchair philosopher, moral anarchist, hopeless romantic and incurable woman worshipper. I'm 26, and am totally jazzed on this noir bag. Good sleuthing."
  (Jon Brody from New York City)
• "This is overall a great site, and one that I wish I had put up. I know I harp on my own book a little bit, but I hope you can forgive me, I am still pinching myself for having joined what I feel are exalted ranks-the Hard-Boiled Crime Noir writers. In any case, to use a hackneyed phrase, do keep up the good work! The information is good and useful, and the layout is good and easily navigable."
  (Timothy C. Phillips from Birmingham, AL)
• "Who the fuck's Roland Longville?" (Evidently an eye created by Tim C. Phillips. See above. ­ ed.)
• "Maybe some sort of user rating system?"
  (Steve Aldous from Buryy, Lancs, England)
• "I think this is one of the most enthralling sites I've seen on the web. Keep up the great work, and, please, update often!"
  (Raphe A. Whaley from: Union City, TN)
  ( I'll do my best... -- ed. )
• "Talk to you after I explore the site."
• "Yes, you have a got a worm in your ear!"
  (Adam Winfield from Derby, England)
• "I'm way impressed. Just for the Americans, though? What about amazon.co.uk? I use both on my site."
  (Bill Kruse from East Molesey, Surrey, UK)
  (Well, the biggest chunk of my audience is American. It's as simple as that. ­ed. )
• "I've been a devotee to your great site for two years now. Before seeing it, I was stuck reading Golden Age whodunnit mysteries because I didn't know any good living private eye writers. Thanks to your site, I've discovered Stephen Greenleaf, Geoffrey Norman, and Robert Crais, to name a few. Keep up the great work!"
  (Bluefox808 from Hawaii)
• "Sorry that I wasn't able to give you more information. Would you send a copy of your Writer's Guidelines to the e-address above. Many thanks."
  (The writer's guidelines are available on the main Fiction page. ­ed. )
• "I enjoy it!"
  (Steve Miller from Columbus, OH)
• I'm new in this site so bear with me...
  (Sami from Finland)

AND NOW, WE PROUDLY PRESENT
THE PORTION OF OUR POLL...

DID YOU LIKE THE ORIGINAL FILM?

• My memory of it is very vague...
• Somewhat.
• Much less than I thought I would. Of course the Hayes' soundtrack is the real winner.
• Yes.
• Damn right.
• Didn't see, but I saw parts of Shaft in Africa and the second movie too.
• Yes. My favorite memory (this is how I remember it) of the era: I was a bartender in St. Louis, close to the theater where they showed the sequel (or one of them), Shaft in Africa. The poster was fantastic. It showed the continent of Africa, with elephants and gorillas peeking out from the Jungle, and Shaft holding his gun towards us, and the tag line read, "SHAFT IN AFRICA -- The Brotherman in the Motherland!" Impossible to not love.........
  (Michael J. Dill from the Left Coast)
• Yes..
• Didn't see it.
• I sure did.
• Yes, very much so as it was one of the first new black heros after Sidney Potier.
• Yes.
• Loved it.
• Of course.
• Sure. I didn't *love* it, but I liked it.
• No.
• Yes.
• Yes, although I liked "Superfly" better.
• Yes, a lot.
• Yeah, I dug it.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Not really.
• Yes.
• I've seen it, but a long time ago--really don't remember.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Not especially--only proud because Isaac Hayes is supposed to be from Memphis. Never saw the original film.
• With the exception of the Bond movies, Dirty Harry, and anything with Steve McQueen, most movies of the '70s suck. Maybe it's all the bell bottoms and funky hair.
  (Huh? Raging Bull, Chinatown, Night Moves, Star Wars, The Conversation, Jaws, Serpico, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Godfather flicks, American Graffiti, Annie Hall, Network, The Last Picture Show, etc., etc. Those sucky seventies? )
• Damn right! (I'm sure that's the first time you've heard that one!)
• Never saw it.
• Yes.
• No.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• No.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Yup.
• I never saw it.
• Yes.
• No.
• Never saw it.
• Yes.
• Not much, actually. I haven't seen it.
• Yes!

ARE YOU PLANNING TO SEE THE NEW ONE?

• Yep.
• Yes.
• I didn't know that they had made a remake. And I think it's a dumb idea to make one. I'm not interested.
• Yes.
• Yep.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• No.
• Already saw it.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Did.
• Yes.
• No.
• No.
• Yes. If not in the theatre, I'll rent it later.
• Yes, but I don't see many movies since my son was born.
• Saw it opening weekend.
• Yes.
• I hope to.
• Yes.
• No.
• Yes.
• Yes, eventually.
• Not until it hits video.
• Yes--already did.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Not likely.
• It looks very good. Sam Jackson is a good actor; he's worth the ticket price alone.
• Already done.
• Nope.
• No.
• I hated the preview.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• Possibly.
• Yes.
• Yes.
• When it gets to TV probably.
• Yes.
• Nope.
• Already did.
• No.
• Yes.
• I missed it.
• Maybe.

IF YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN IT, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

• Not yet, but share!!!
• Not enough action.
• Darn good action movie!
• I gave the movie a ten! Sam put his own stamp on it!
• It was pretty good.
• Let you know as soon as I see it.
• PRO: Action scenes are nicely done. Samuel Jackson is very good in the title role. The two main villains are quite well-drawn. It's great to see Richard Roundtree again. That music is still great. Good story.
  CON: Didn't they listen to the soundtrack? The lyric is "Who's the black PRIVATE dick?" not "Who's the black police dick?" I've got nothing against cop pictures, but Shaft is supposed to be a private eye, not a cop? Even though he quits the force about halfway through the movie, and seems to be setting up as a PI at the very end of the movie, he never really stops being a cop in his own mind (or the audience's). Even the closing sequence in which he seems to be quitting for good to go into private business leaves a little room for doubt as he goes out on one last police call. And, nice as it was to see Richard Roundtree again, I found all this "passing the baton" stuff a little forced. I mean when they re-cast James Bond or Tarzan or Batman, they don't say that the new guy is the old guy's kid brother or nephew or cousin or something. They just say a different actor is playing the same character. Besides, if I recall the books correctly, Shaft is an only child, which means he had no siblings, which means he couldn't have a nephew. The insistence that this "isn't a re-make" (which is quite true by the way), is a little confusing given that the title is Shaft (just like the original) and the credits say "based on the novel by Ernest Tidyman" (just like the original). If they want to differentiate it from the first film, why not give it some more appropriate title like The Return of Shaft or something and a more precisely correct credit line like "based on CHARACTERS created by Ernest Tidyman?"
  (Jim Doherty of Chicago)
• He should have been a PI, but Jackson could have been doing his laundry for two hours in that character and I probably still would have been entertained. Let's see the sequel!
• Disappointing. Sam Jackson's character was one dimensional.
• Not too great, though I don't have much to compare it to (just old memories of the original).
• Good.
• Yes.
• Heard it sucked.
• Not bad. Better than I expected, but not enough Roundtree.
• It was so great...loved it very much.
• Lacked the Machismo and shameless manliness of the original Shaft.
• The local color was more interesting than the action.
• Awfully stupid, noisy and...well, not cool.

HAVE YOU EVER READ THE ORIGINAL NOVELS BY ERNEST TIDYMAN, AND IF YOU DID, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

• There were novels?
• Good tough reads. Unexpectedly so, I must admit. The huge success of the films unfortunately overshadowed them.
• I would like to read them. I'm hoping the novel will be re-released with the movie.
• I haven't been able to locate any of them, but I would like to read them.
• Nice trash. John Ball's Mr. Tibbs was too much of a boy scout. But Chester Himes' works were more authentic, and Ezekiel Rawlings is a better detective and a better man.
• Yes, I read the first one. Again, I liked it, didn't love it. I read it many years after the novelty of a black PI would have worn off, however. Had I read it when it first came out, the impact might have been greater.
• I've never been able to find them.
• They were ahead of their times, much better than the film and it's a shame that they are out if print.
• Yes - Good Stuff.
• Yes. Better than the movie, very underrated.
• Yeah, I read 'em years ago. I recall enjoying them very much.
• Good.
• Haven't read them, but I would like to see them reprinted if some publisher can do it.
• Yeah, read the first book and "Shaft Among the Jews". Better than the movies, but lacked that kickass theme music.
• No.
• He was so interesting, and I love his work.
• Not bad, but dated now.
• Brilliant...I still have all my old paperbacks from 25 years ago..

AND OF COURSE, THE ANSWER TO OUR BRAIN-SUCKING TRIVIA QUESTION WILL ONLY BE REVEALED AT THE END OF THE CONTEST. BUT THANKS FOR PLAYING...

• Roy Rogers?
• Umm, Mongo?
• Paul Rubens?
• Trigger?
• I though the lyric was "Who's the black private dick who's a sex machine to all the chicks?"
  (Damn! I can't even get the question right! See what me about typos and mistakes? The question has now been corrected and a Special- Edition, Platinum- Plated, Steam- Powered Goof- Spotting Thrilling Detective No- Prize is currently winging its way to faithful reader Jim Doherty of Chicago via carrier pigeon. - ed. )
• Shut your mouth!
• Gee, except for the black part, that sounds a lot like me.
• Uh, Jesse Helms?
• Easy Rawlins? Slaughter?
• Iceberg Slim?
• Even the basketball player couldn't get all the chicks!
• Mike Hammer?
• Me, dammit!!! Me, me, ME!!!!!
• Lord Peter Wimsey?
• If it isn't ... then I'll eat my P.I. shoe.
• Hmm... Let me try a guess... Naah, no way that's the right one...
• The cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about?
• I hope it's Dan Williams!
• Hawk (Shaft would crawl away whimpering from an encounter.)
• Oh my Gawd! It's Regis!!!